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St. Clair Shores

June 12, 2013

Lakeview softball team earns third district title in four years

Other local teams exit playoffs

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

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Photo by Sean Work

The St. Clair Shores Lakeview softball team won its second straight district title by beating Grosse Pointe North 8-5 in a Division 1 district final played June 1 at Grosse Pointe North. Pictured is Lakeview’s Lauren Shock (7) avoiding a tag during a district semifinal against East Detroit June 1.

Photo by Sean Work

The St. Clair Shores Lakeview softball team won its second straight district title by beating Grosse Pointe North 8-5 in a Division 1 district final played June 1 at Grosse Pointe North. Pictured is Lakeview’s Lauren Shock (7) avoiding a tag during a district semifinal against East Detroit June 1.

St. Clair Shores Lakeview softball coach Becky Quinn left the program for a year after relocating for a job.

In Quinn’s first year back — and her third overall — the Huskies’ coach has guided the team to its third district title in four years.

Lakeview (9-12 at press time) knocked off Grosse Pointe North 8-5 in a Division 1 district final played June 1 at Grosse Pointe North. The Huskies beat East Detroit High 18-0 a district semifinal played June 1 to advance to the final.

Lakeview pitcher Alexis Nowowiecki earned both wins for the Huskies.

“It’s pretty exciting. I knew we had a good group of girls coming into the year,” said Quinn, whose team went 5-7 in the Macomb Area Conference White Division. “I was excited to get the team back and get things rolling.”

Lakeview’s regional semifinal against Garden City High took place after press time. The Huskies’ district title made Lakeview back-to-back district champs. Lakeview also won a district championship in 2010. In 2011, the Huskies lost 3-2 in extra innings in a district-title tilt.

“(Winning a district title) gives you confidence,” Lakeview junior Becky Corbett said. “We’ve won district titles (three of the last four years). It’s a good feeling that people know we have a good program.”

Quinn said she and assistant Jodi Witczak used the regular season to prepare for a playoff run. The Lakeview coach, who played softball at Wayne State University, said she and her team focused on the mental aspect of the game for much of the campaign.

Quinn added that offense has been a focus of the team all season. She noted that defense can get a team stops, but scoring runs wins games.

“During every single practice, we talked about that at the end of the season — when it comes down to that final inning — what are you going to do with it?” Quinn said. “This is what we worked all season for. This is when things really count.”

This point in the season has seen the intensity ramped up at Lakeview practices, Corbett said.

“We’ve been a little more pumped up in getting ready for the playoffs,” Huskies sophomore Taylor Genzman said.

Genzman and Corbett are a part of a large group who should return to the team next year. Lakeview loses just three players to graduation, according to Quinn, who added that the team could make another run next year.

“We do lose three starters, but we start four juniors who should all be back, and we’ve got a lot of good girls coming in to fill certain roles,” Quinn said. “So I think we’ll be solid going into next year, too.”

Other local teams bow out in district round
The Lakeview baseball team fell 11-1 to Grosse Pointe South in a D-1 district final played June 1 at Grosse Pointe North. The Huskies, who end the season 5-18, knocked off East Detroit 13-3 to advance to the district final.

The Lake Shore baseball team (13-13) saw its season end in a 10-6 loss to Warren Woods Tower in a D-1 district semi played June 1 at Tower. Lake Shore’s softball team (21-11) fell 4-3 to Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse in a D-1 district final played June 1 at Tower. The Shorians’ softball team knocked off Tower 7-2 to advance to the final.

South Lake (11-11) baseball lost 10-0 to Center Line in a D-2 district final. The Cavaliers beat Warren Lincoln 5-4 to advance to the final. South Lake’s softball team (18-2) also fell to Center Line by a score of 12-2 in a D-2 district final. The Cavs bounced Lincoln 6-1 to advance to the final.